Kitchener Stitch

Working the Kitchener stitch doesn’t have to be daunting! In this video, sock designer Corrina Ferguson demonstrates how to work the Kitchener stitch. She works the sample in a contrasting color yarn; however, for your own sock knitting projects you’ll be using the same yarn that you used to knit the sock.

To begin, arrange the stitches for the sock toe onto two needles. The same number of stitches should be on each needle. The needle closest to you is the “front needle” and the needle furthest from you is the “back needle.” Next, you’ll need a length of yarn 3 – 4 times the width of the sock toe that is being grafted together. Thread the yarn onto the tapestry needle and work as follows:

– Step 1: Bring tapestry needle through the first stitch on the front needle as if to purl. Do not remove the stitch from the knitting needle.

– Step 2: Bring tapestry needle through the first stitch on the back needle as if to knit. Do not remove the stitch from the knitting needle.

– Step 3: Bring tapestry needle through the first stitch on the front needle as if to knit and remove the stitch from the knitting needle. Bring the tapestry needle through the next stitch on the front needle as if to purl and leave it on the knitting needle.

– Step 4: Bring tapestry through the first stitch on the back needle as if to purl and remove the stitch from the knitting needle. Bring the tapestry needle through the next stitch on the back needle as if to knit and leave it on the knitting needle.

Repeat steps 3 & 4 until one stitch remains on each needle. End the Kitchener stitch by taking the tapestry needle through the stitch on the front needle as if to knit and removing it. The bring the tapestry needle through the stitch on the back needle as it to purl and remove it.

Once the grafting is complete, the stitches can be tightened up a bit if necessary and weave in the yarn tails into the sock.